The best foundations for flawless base makeup, according to celebrities
When it comes to red carpet glam, celebs know it’s all about that base.
From full-coverage formulas to sticks that stash perfectly in a purse, a handful of foundations have scored multiple stars’ stamps of approval.
- Best Overall: Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Perfect Glow Flawless Foundation
- Best Liquid: Pat McGrath Labs Skin Fetish: Sublime Perfection Foundation
- Best Stick: Westman Atelier Vital Skin Foundation Stick
- Best Budget-Friendly: Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser Treatment Foundation
The products below have been tried and tested by A-listers aplenty — and continue to pop up on their glowing faces (and in glowing reviews).
Below, discover and shop the best foundations on the market, according to celebrities like Meghan Markle, Hailey Bieber and Rihanna. (And don’t forget to check out our guides to must-have mascaras, lipsticks and skincare staples to complete your beauty bag.)
Best Overall: Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Perfect Glow Flawless Foundation
Pros:
- Provides a luminous, skin-like finish
- Buildable and blendable
- Feels incredibly lightweight
Cons:
- Contains fragrance, which some might not like
When it comes to celebrity-loved foundations, it’s hard to beat this bestseller from Giorgio Armani. The oil-free formula promises a “silky, lightweight texture” and claims to help “sculpt and brighten skin, improve skin texture and blur imperfections.”
Lydia Sellers, who worked with Meghan Markle on “Suits,” once told Refinery29 it’s also “really easy to sheer out” with a Beautyblender, as the star would ask her, “Can we just make sure my freckles are peeking through?”
And while Rihanna and Kylie Jenner also name-dropped the formula before launching their own beauty brands, it’s just as much of a hit today. Sydney Sweeney recently called it “the best,” while Maude Apatow dubbed it her “favorite ever” in a joint Elle interview.
Makeup artist and Armani Beauty partner Carolina Gonzalez regularly uses the sheer formula on her client Sabrina Carpenter, telling us it “can be applied lightly but also is excellent for layering if you want more coverage.”
Page Six Style’s review: “When it comes to foundations that look and feel like actual skin — almost like a skin tint, but with a tad more coverage — this is the gold standard. I adore the smooth, silky texture, and it’s incredibly buildable and blendable. I prefer applying it by hand, but you can also use the brush or sponge of your choice. In short, it’s absolutely worth the hype.” — Elana Fishman, Page Six Style Editor
Coverage: Medium coverage | Finish: Dewy | Shade range: 40 shades
Best Liquid: Pat McGrath Labs Skin Fetish: Sublime Perfection Foundation
Pros:
- Easy to apply with your fingers (as McGrath recommends)
- Provides a natural, your-skin-but-better finish
- Buildable coverage
- Feels hydrating
Cons:
- Liquid formula can be a little messy if you’re not careful with it
- Over $60
This celeb-favorite foundation is advertised as both long-wearing and buildable — two things that are likely music to the ears of musicians like Cardi B and Taylor Swift. The “WAP” hitmaker rocked the formula at the 2023 Grammys, while Taylor Swift sported it in her “Bejeweled” music video (which featured a cameo from none other than Pat McGrath herself).
Page Six Style’s review: “To say I’m obsessed with this foundation would be putting it lightly. It’s so easy to apply by hand — even for a makeup novice — and blends in like a dream. Just be sure to pair it with primer and setting spray for best results. (I personally use Pat McGrath Labs Skin Fetish: Sublime Perfection Hydrating Primer with Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray, and my look lasts all day — even in the summer.)” — Hannah Southwick, Page Six Commerce Writer
Coverage: Light to medium | Finish: Matte | Shade range: 32 shades
Best Stick: Westman Atelier Vital Skin Foundation Stick
Pros:
- Ideal for on-the-go touch-ups
- Provides a natural-looking finish
Cons:
- Over $60
- Only available in 20 shades
Stars don’t just stick with classic liquid formulas. Celebrity makeup artist Gucci Westman counts everyone from Jennifer Aniston to Kate Hudson as a client, so it’s no surprise her brand’s award-winning foundation stick is also a Hollywood favorite.
“Put a dab where you need it, you can put it all over. It’s buildable so you can make it, you know, thicker if you need it,” Gwyneth Paltrow said in a Vogue video, calling all of Westman Atelier’s products a “10 out of 10.”
Jennifer Garner’s similarly name-dropped the stick over the years, while “RHOSLC” star Meredith Marks once told Page Six Style she was “dying over” the product.
Coverage: Medium | Finish: Dewy | Shade range: 20 shades
Best Budget-Friendly: Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser Treatment Foundation
Pros:
- Under $15
- Reviewers noted it’s easy to apply, even without a primer
- Comes with a soft application sponge
Cons:
- Only available in 16 shades
Bethenny Frankel tested out luxury foundations from the likes of La Prairie before declaring this drugstore find “every bit as good as the expensive ones” in a TikTok review.
“I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. LOVE this product…” she said in an Instagram Story months later, doubling down on her initial rave.
Coverage: Medium | Finish: Dewy | Shade range: 16 shades
Best Matte: Fenty Beauty Pro Filt’r Soft Matte Longwear Foundation
Pros:
- Available in 50 shades
- Sweat- and humidity-resistant
Cons:
- Formula isn’t very creamy, so it’s best applied over a hydrating primer
Rihanna is often her beauty brand’s own best advertisement, having worn this long-lasting foundation everywhere from her Super Bowl halftime show performance to the 2023 Golden Globes.
She’s clearly not the only star who thinks the foundation can really “Work,” however, as Ziwe and Daniel Kaluuya are also fans. Shoppers are equally obsessed with the product — which comes in a range of 50 shades — as it’s racked up over 13,000 largely glowing reviews at Ulta alone.
Coverage: Full coverage | Finish: Matte | Shade range: 50 shades
Best Glow: Charlotte Tilbury Beautiful Skin Foundation
Pros:
- Made with hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid
- Case can be engraved for a personalized gift
Cons:
- Some reviewers got the best results after prepping with a hydrating primer, or a moisturizer like the brand’s Magic Cream
- Not the best for those who prefer a matte finish
Like practically all of Charlotte Tilbury’s products, this award-winning, hyaluronic acid-powered formula packs major star power. At the 2024 Met Gala alone, Lana Del Rey, Demi Moore, Sarah Jessica Parker and Emily Ratajkowski all used the hydrating base. It’s also an awards season staple for stars like Rita Ora, Aubrey Plaza and Ayo Edebiri.
Coverage: Medium | Finish: Dewy | Shade range: 30 shades
Best for Body: Dior Backstage Face & Body Foundation
Pros:
- Can be used on face and body
- Glowy finish
- Comes in 45 shades
Cons:
- Might be a bit too dewy for oily skin types
Looking for another crown jewel of the beauty aisle? Dior is a longtime favorite of Meghan Markle’s makeup artist, Daniel Martin, who used it for the star’s wedding.
“I don’t use foundation all over her face, so it’s really important for me to get her skin to a good place so that any redness and unevenness I can correct with just a bit of foundation — that’s usually more full coverage — that I can sheer out,” he told Allure.
Coverage: Medium | Finish: Natural | Shade range: 43 shades
Best Designer: Chanel Ultra Le Teint Foundation
Pros:
- Lightweight satin-matte finish
- Provides up to 24 hours of coverage
Cons:
- Not as ideal for dry skin types
- Over $60
Chanel’s discontinued Vitalumière foundation (Vitalumière Aqua, a lighter alternative with SPF 15, is still available) was a longtime favorite among stars — and now, Ultra Le Teint seems primed to follow in its footsteps. Hailey Bieber kicked off 2023 with a dewy look featuring the formula, which Kim Kardashian’s also worn.
Coverage: Medium | Finish: Matte | Shade range: 35 shades
Best Luxury: La Mer Soft Fluid Long Wear Foundation
Pros:
- Liquid formula is easy to apply, whether by hand or with a makeup sponge
- Reviewers say a little goes a long way
Cons:
- Over $100
- Not ideal for those who prefer fragrance-free formulas
Celebrity makeup artist Mary Phillips — who’s worked with the likes of Bella Hadid and Kendall Jenner — is a longtime fan of this splurge-worthy base, which she once told W is the “the most skin-like foundation” she’d ever used.
Kim Kardashian has also raved over the product, saying in a 2018 Vogue “Beauty Secrets” video, “I love La Mer foundation.”
Coverage: Medium | Finish: Natural | Shade range: 27 shades
FAQ
How do I pick the right foundation shade?
While picking the right shade can seem daunting, makeup artists rely on a foolproof trick to find the right fit: Looking at the veins in your wrist.
“If [your veins are] purple, you have cool tones and if green you have warm tones,” Gonzalez tells us. “If both blue and green, you’re most likely neutral.”
Billie Gene, a celebrity makeup artist who works with the likes of Kerry Washington and Chrissy Teigen, follows the same guidelines, noting that while “complexions may change with the seasons, your undertone will remain the same.”
“Your complexion can vary in different planes of your face,” the beauty guru adds. “I always suggest going with the color you see most on the face with great attention to the jawline area, because the center of the face tends to naturally be lighter.”
What’s the best way to apply foundation?
If you’re after a lighter, skin-like look, both artists recommend using your fingers (or in Gene’s case, a Beautyblender) in lieu of a brush.
As for more full-coverage glam? “I personally like to use a combination of a foundation brush [and] a Beautyblender to soften and blend out the coverage seamlessly,” the beauty pro adds.
Gonzalez prefers using a blush brush “for a buffed effect.”
How can you make foundation last longer?
The key to long-lasting makeup starts well before you apply your foundation. Gene recommends first hydrating skin with a moisturizer and primer (in addition to eventually setting the final look with a setting spray or powder).
“Alsom be sure to use the right amount of foundation to ensure it adheres to skin and lasts,” says the expert.
Why Trust Page Six Style Shopping
This article was written by Hannah Southwick, Commerce Writer/Reporter for Page Six Style. Hannah spies deals on actually affordable celebrity-worn styles, puts Hollywood’s favorite labels to the test and finds the beauty products that keep stars red carpet-ready. She consults stylists and industry pros — including celebs themselves — for firsthand product recommendations, trend predictions and more. In addition to writing for Page Six since 2020, her work has been featured in USA Today and Parade.
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